Street Talk Easter 2017

Streettalk
Easter 2017 Residents & Tenants Magazine
Issue No.
55
Happy Easter
from all at Ocean Housing
Our younger customers
Milly and Berlina are
having an Egg-cellent time
playing hide and seek with
the Easter Bunny.
Easter
Opening Hours
Our offices will close for Easter
at 5.00pm on Thursday
13th April 2017 and will re-open at
8.30am on Tuesday 18th April 2017.
Emergency repairs can be reported
on 01726 874450
To report Anti-Social
Behaviour call:
0800 0886699
A Job Well Done
Providing a top-notch service to all our
customers is important to us, so when we
receive positive feedback, we want to shout
about it. Customer Jenny contacted us to
thank our Communal Cleaning Team for
their help. “Wow! What an incredible
service, all done with a smile, efficiency
and good humour” wrote Jenny.
Tell us what you think of our
services by visiting
www.oceanhousing.com/contact-us
and complete an online
contact form.
Contents: • Panel Power • Ocean at Your Service • Digital Street Talk • Work Routes • Get Connected
• Ocean in Bloom • Harmony Wins £500 For Her School • Grounds Maintenance Team • Estate Walkabout
• Nutrition Mission • Anti-Social Behaviour • Getting It Right • Chatterbox • Kick Start Your Career with Ocean
• Investing £7 Million • Register My Appliance • Recommend a Friend • Six Ways to Avoid a Recharge
email: help@oceanhousing.com www.oceanhousing.com 01726 874450
oceanhousingassociation @Ocean_Housing oceanhousingassociation

What a busy time
it’s been for all our
involved residents,
none more so than our very
own Tenant & Resident Panel.
The Panel’s Annual General
Meeting took place in March,
which gave them time to
reflect on what they have
achieved in the last year.
Busy Summer Schedule Panel Power
Re-elected Chairperson Jan
runs a tight ship and tells
us “This year has got off to
a great start. We have had
plenty of training with our
Scrutiny Panel, which helps
us to work together, grow
together and most importantly
Ocean’s Tenant & Resident Panel
refine our skills. We do this to
make sure we drive continuous improvement in the services Ocean provides, for the benefit of
current and future residents” says Jan. “Our Treasure Chest Initiative has been really successful
and we’ve supported many community groups amounting to £2,400 of funding. I’m delighted
with the interest that we’ve had in our panel and can report our numbers are on the rise, long
may this good fortune continue,” concludes Jan.
If you would like more information about the Tenant Panel or the Treasure Chest Initiative visit
www.oceanhousing.com/resident-involvement
Ocean at your Service
A huge thank you to all those who helped
with our latest review of Ocean’s Service
Standards.
These standards cover the level of service
you should expect from Ocean and include
everything from speed of contact to safer
neighbourhoods. Over 40 customers took
part in the January programme of workshops.
Your feedback has helped us to update the
Home Standard, the Tenancy Standard, the
Neighbourhood & Community Standard and
the Resident Empowerment & Involvement
Standard.
Customers were also able to select the design
and layout options which were clearest to
read and easiest on the eye. The remaining
3 Services Standards – Development,
Governance & Viability and Value for Money -
did not receive any major changes, but have
been updated in to the new formats.
You can check out the Service Standards
online at
www.oceanhousing.com/service-standards,
where you can also view our regular
performance reports.

Digital Street Talk – Your Choice
Streettalk
Wishing you a
Winter 2016 Residents & Tenants Magazine
Happy Christmas
Christmas Opening Hours
Our offi ces will close at 5.00pm on
Thursday 22nd December and will
re-open at 8.30am on Tuesday 3rd January.
Out of Hours Telephone Numbers
Should you need to report an emergency
repair please call us on
01726 874450
Anti-Social Behaviour
out of hours
can be contacted on
0800 0886699
With thanks to The Polgooth Inn
54
Issue No.
from all at Ocean
Contents: • New Chief Executive • Celebrating Success • Estate Walkabouts • Nutrition Mission
• Universal Credit • Text Appeal • Get Connected • Have Your Say! • Let’s Chat • Be Survey Smart
• Cyber Safety • Scrutiny on Grounds Maintenance • Peace of Mind • HomeCheck Service
• Home Sweet Home • Tackling Tenancy Fraud • Competition
01726874450 email: help@oceanhousing.com www.oceanhousing.com
Contact us for a Large Print or Audio CD version of this newsletter
1
Work Routes
We’ve teamed
up with Work
Routes Cornwall
SIGN UP who can support
One of our friendly job
you on a journey
advisers will ring and
see how into we can lasting help
employment.
Here’s how:
TAILORED TRAINING
Help writing a CV and applying for
jobs; interview practice or training
in skills like IT or customer service
Get Connected is coming to the West of
Cornwall! Sign up for FREE to our next
series of workshops, where we will show
you how to get online and become more
at ease using a computer. Starting 27th
April 2017, every Thursday for 4 weeks,
10am-1pm at Hayle Rugby Club. This is
an important skill for working age people
needing to claim Universal Credit as
applications will be online only. To book
your space contact the Tenant Involvement
Team on 01726 874450.
There is no denying it; today we live in a fastpaced
digital world where Social Media and
e-newsletters are the ‘norm’.
To make sure we’re providing
Value for Money and meet our
customers’ needs, Street Talk will
soon be going digital’. This means
it will be published on our website
and delivered by email but you will no
longer automatically receive a printed
copy in the post. If you have provided us
with an email address, you should already
be benefitting from receiving Street Talk
newsletters by E-mail. If you however, would
prefer to still receive 1 a printed SIGN copy UP via the post,
don’t worry you 2 can still get One your of our hands friendly job on one
SIGN UP
1-2-1 MEETING
– simply call us on 01726 874450 advisers will to ring make and sure
Streettalk
Summer 2016 Residents & Tenants Magazine
1000th
Ocean has recently celebrated
1000 homes built in the county
for local people. Our new
developments are springing up
all over the county from Bodmin
Moor to Hayle, and spanning
from coast-to-coast with new
houses in the seaside resorts
of Newquay and Trevone, on
the North coast, and the pretty
fishing villages of Fowey and
Mevagissey, on the South
coast.
Residents at Connor Downs
were invited to join in with the
celebrations to mark the 1000th
home built which just so happened to be in their very own village!
“We feel honoured to be involved in Ocean’s 1000th home celebratory event and are even
prouder that it’s right here in Connor Downs!”
says Kay. “The new development has allowed
local families to remain living in the village which
is great and being able to move into a brand
new house is amazing! I’m sure all residents who’ve
benefited from a new Ocean house will be very
appreciative, I know we are!” continues Kay.
Pupils from Connor Downs Academy were
involved in a Cornish themed art competition.
The winning pictures were displayed for
everyones enjoyment in the show home at
the development during the event.
Just a reminder...
Contents: • Busy Summer Schedule • Serving the Community • Goodbye and Welcome!
• Kitchen Refurbs Underway • Crafty Fingers • Own More • Who’s Your Neighbourhood Services Officer?
• Surviving UC and the Benefit Cap • Thinking Ahead • Residents at our Heart • Our Construction and
Development Company Wins Top Award! • 2020 Project Update • Free Prize Draw • Estate Walkabout Calendar
email: help@oceanhousing.com www.oceanhousing.com 01726 874450
you don’t miss out.
You can sign up for free organising help childcare at workroutes.co.uk or call 01726 218956.
5
6
6
FINANCIAL HELP
LASTING SUPPORT
LASTING We can also SUPPORT help with costs
Get Connected
FINANCIAL HELP
We can also help with costs
of travel, work clothes and
organising childcare
53
Issue No.
Home Edition
On Bank Holiday Monday 29th August, the offices will be closed
and will re-open at 8.30am on Tuesday 30th August.
Out of Hours Numbers: Emergency repairs: 01872 324 800 Anti-Social Behaviour: 0800 0886699
1
1
2
3
3
4
5
1
3
3
5
5
One of our friendly job
advisers will ring and
see how we can help
SIGN UP
One of our friendly job
advisers will ring and
SIGN TAILORED see UPhow we can TRAINING help
One of Help our writing friendly a CV job and applying for
advisers jobs; will interview ring and practice or training
see how in skills we like can IT help or customer service
SIGN TAILORED UP TRAINING
1-2-1 One of MEETING our friendly job
advisers will ring and
Meet
TAILORED
a job adviser
see how we can TRAINING
to develop
FINANCIAL help HELP
Help writing a CV and applying for
jobs; interview practice or training
in skills like IT or customer service
your personal training and
support Help writing We plan can a also CV and help applying with costs for
jobs; interview of travel, practice work clothes or training and
in skills organising like IT customer childcare service
TAILORED FINANCIAL TRAINING HELP
EXCLUSIVE VACANCIES
FINANCIAL organising HELP childcare
Help writing We can a also CV and help applying with costs for
jobs; of interview travel, practice work clothes or training and
in skills like IT or customer service
advertised anywhere else
We can also help with costs
of travel, work clothes and
of travel, work clothes and
On-going help once you start
organising childcare
work – support applying for
more hours or promotion
2
2
4
4
6
2
3
4
4
5
6
6
Meet see how a job we adviser can help to develop
your personal training and
support plan
1-2-1 MEETING
Meet
TAILORED
a job adviser
TRAINING
to develop
your personal training and
1-2-1 support EXCLUSIVE MEETING plan VACANCIES
Help writing a CV and applying for
jobs; interview practice or training
Meet a
in
job
skills
adviser
like IT
to
or
develop
customer service
your personal advertised training anywhere and else
support plan
1-2-1 EXCLUSIVE MEETINGVACANCIES
Meet a FINANCIAL job adviser to HELP develop
your personal advertised training anywhere and else
We can also help with costs
EXCLUSIVE support LASTING plan VACANCIES SUPPORT
of travel, work clothes and
On-going organising help childcare once you start
advertised work – anywhere support applying else for
more hours or promotion
EXCLUSIVE LASTING VACANCIES SUPPORT
On-going help once you start
advertised work – anywhere support applying else for
more hours or promotion
LASTING SUPPORT
On-going help once you start
work – support applying for
more hours or promotion
On-going help once you start
work – support applying for
more hours or promotion
.... at the heart of
the community
2
4
6

Ocean in
Bl m
Potty about plants? Take pride in your garden? Then why not share your ‘labour
of love’ and inspire others too, through our new tenant inspired gardening competition:
‘Ocean in Bloom’. Scrutiny Panel Chairman, Graham, explains, “Our review of the Grounds
Maintenance Service highlighted the need to support our grounds men in the fantastic job
they do. Simple things such as picking up litter can make all the difference to their work.
Keeping your own garden tidy can also contribute enormously to the
appearance of where you live and boost community spirit. So what
better way to promote this, than a gardening competition?”
If you would like the opportunity to win some great prizes and
gain some glory for your garden, enter for free and upload
a photo online at www.oceanhousing.com/ocean-bloom
Prefer to post? Simply return the form below with a
photo of your garden at its best. Regretfully we will not
be able to return photos.
The three categories you can enter into are:
• Category 1: Best hanging basket or container
• Category 2: Best garden front/rear
• Category 3: Best allotment or vegetable patch
Closing Date:
Entries for consideration must be received by 5pm
on Friday 9th June 2017. We will be in touch with
shortlisted entries to arrange judge’s visits.
A full list of Terms & Conditions are available at
www.oceanhousing.com/ocean-bloom
2nd Prize:
£30
Voucher
New
for
2017
1st Prize:
Family ticket
to Eden Project
+ £30
Voucher
3rd Prize:
£20
Voucher
Name:
Address:
Postcode:
Tel:
Email:
Category:
Location of garden if not at home address
Send to: Ocean in Bloom, FREEPOST RSES-LCCA-EJUJ,
St Austell PL25 3SW

Harmony wins £500 for her school
Group Chairman Dennis Spilsbury recently
joined excited students and staff from
St Martins C of E Primary School in
assembly as he made a
special delivery. The school
were delighted as Dennis
handed over a cheque
for £500, the top prize for
Ocean’s ‘Draw your Dream
Home’ competition which was
launched to raise awareness of
the upcoming affordable homes
in Liskeard. The £2.7 Million
development is due to complete
in February 2018 and will boast 14
affordable homes for rent along with
6 Shared Ownership properties. Great
news for Liskeard locals who are looking
to rent, or take the first step onto the
property ladder with Ocean HomeBuy.
To find out more about our upcoming
developments visit
www.oceanhousing.com/coming-soon
13,776 MILES
travelling around Cornwall to service Ocean
estates and dispose of waste
3,680 SITE VISITS
grass cutting, weeding, hedge, shrub and tree
maintenance, litter picking, safety inspections
Here’s what they do in an
average year...
13,104 HOURS
spent by staff on grounds maintenance
Average grounds maintenance
service charge is just 20p a day
For more information visit www.oceanhousing.com/estate-services
Estate Walkabout Calendar
If you want to speak with your Neighbourhood Services Officer about where
you live, why not join them on an Estate Walkabout? Now taking place twice
a year, for further information simply click on ‘Your Community’ section on
our website www.oceanhousing.com/estate-services. Not online?
Call us on 01726 874450 to speak with your Neighbourhood Services
Officer to find out when we are next in your area.
.... at the heart of
the community

Nutrition Mission… Complete!
A wonderful array of smells wafted through
Ocean’s offices back in February half term
as fifteen young chefs took on our nutrition
mission. With help from Lizzie of Little Kitchen
Magicians, the children learnt about portion
control, a balanced diet, how much sugar
can be found in drinks and what a healthy
alternative is.
Our chefs then prepared and cooked their
own nutritious lunches of chicken nuggets
with potato wedges and chicken curry with
mixed vegetables and noodles. All super
tasty, very easy to make and healthier than a
takeaway.
Chatter Box
“There’s a great appetite for this type of
event,” said Beverley, Ocean’s Tenant
Involvement Coordinator. “Keep an eye on
our event page at www.oceanhousing.com/
Your-Community or call us on 01726 874450
to find out what ideas we’re cooking up next”!
Customer contact has never been easier thanks to our online Live Chat feature. It’s
the convenience and instant response that our customers like the most. Next time
you need to get in touch, try live chat at www.oceanhousing.com and click on the
‘Let’s Chat’ icon to start chatting with a Customer Service Advisor.
Anti-Social Behaviour: Getting it Right
We know Anti-Social Behaviour (or ASB) and common
neighbourhood disputes can have a negative impact on your
day-to-day life. We also know how important it is to listen to
your feedback when dealing with ASB, to make sure we get
it right. As a direct result of your feedback
we now:
• Regularly monitor your customer cases and proactively
reduce the time they stay open
• Ensure each case has a consistent approach
• Actively look for trends and address the source of
the problem
• Have improved links with other agencies such as Social
Services and Mental Health Teams
We will continue to provide a customer focused ASB service and with your help, make your
home a safe and enjoyable place to live.
If you need to report Anti-Social Behaviour concerns, visit www.oceanhousing.com/report-asb
or contact your Neighbourhood Services Officer on 01726 874450.

Kick Start
your Career with Ocean
Are you leaving school, college or
university this year? Perhaps you want a
career change? Then look no further than
Ocean’s popular apprenticeships. What
sets us apart from other apprenticeships
is our drive to help you succeed. We
have a fantastic range of careers
to choose from such as Electrical,
Plumbing, Carpentry or Business
Administration. We offer an attractive
wage and a minimum of 25 days holiday.
With one-to-one support from skilled
professionals and the opportunity to gain
a nationally recognised qualification, it’s
no wonder our apprenticeships are the
number one choice to kick start your
new career.
For more information, contact Cornwall
College Business recruitment team on 0845 6099 599 or apprenticeships@cornwall.ac.uk,
visit www.ocean-group.co.uk/apprenticeships, or come and say hello at the Cornwall
College’s apprenticeship event on Wednesday 26th April 2017, 5 - 7.30pm at St Austell
College. Book your space by contacting Cornwall College using the details above.
Investing £7million in 2017
We’re proud of our homes and want you
to be too. In addition to our day-to-day
repairs, our fire safety campaign and new
door entry systems, homes across Kernow
will benefit from Ocean’s £7 million home
improvement programme including:
• 147 Kitchen Renewals
• 121 Bathroom Renewals
• 123 Heating System Replacements
• External Decoration for 862 homes
Universal Credit -
Are you Ready?
The benefit system is changing and could affect YOU
from December 2017.
If you are working age and claiming benefits, could
you manage without ANY benefits for 7 Weeks?
Our team of advisors
are available to offer you
advice and support making
sure you are ready for the changes
being introduced in December 2017. Visit our website
www.oceanhousing.com/universal-credit or call us on
01726 874450 for Welfare Advice and Guidance.
.... at the heart of
the community

Recommend a friend
Many customers enjoy living at home,
just needing a little support. That’s where
we can help. From just £3.95 a week,
Ocean Extra can provide you with a
Lifeline. At the touch of a button, you can
raise an alarm in case of an emergency
and get the help you need. You can
now recommend a friend to Lifeline and
receive a £20 shopping voucher just like
neighbours Brenda and Morley. “I have
Lifeline and thought my neighbour could
really benefit from the service,” explains
Brenda. “Having had a stroke 16 years
ago I can find some tasks a challenge.
Lifeline makes me feel secure and gives
me peace of mind knowing someone
is there should there be a crisis,”
added Morley.
To recommend a friend and receive a £20
voucher, contact our Ocean Extra Team
on 01726 874450, or click on our page
www.oceanhousing.com/lifeline
Six ways to avoid a recharge
Moving house can be an exciting and busy
time, but leaving your property in a poor
condition will increase your chances of a
recharge. Follow these helpful tips to avoid
those unwanted costs:
1. Clear your home of all furniture and
rubbish, including the garden and loft
spaces. Items can be recycled at
household waste disposal centres and
unwanted items can be given to charity.
2. Ensure that décor is presentable with
no damage or torn wallcoverings.
3. Remove any damaged carpet or curtains.
4. Make sure all internal and external doors
are present and left in a good condition.
5. Give the house a spring clean.
6. Tidy up your garden and shed.
Recharges can also be given if we believe
damage has been caused intentionally. If
you’re unsure as to what your responsibilities
are, just ask at your pre-void inspection or
check out our handy “Guide to Moving Home”
at www.oceanhousing.com/want-move
Printed on Re-cycled paper. Designed & produced by Karen Jackson Design 01326 373108 Photography by Frame by Frame 01503 262684
Contact us for a
Large Print or Audio CD
of this newsletter
help@oceanhousing.com
01726 874450 www.oceanhousing.com